Noa's birthday bash.

Again, sorry for the delayed posts. I'm trying to get better at this posting-on-time thing....
bear with me.

This was my sweet little Noa's 2-year birthday party.
I am so grateful for all of our family and friends that came and celebrated this special day with us. You guys made this day that much more special! but mostly, I am grateful for this energetic, fun and extremely sweet little boy in my life.

 Happy Birthday toddler Noa!
Can't wait to see what this next year brings you.

Love you lots and LOTS.

xoxo,
mommy, daddy, and Kai Kai

Not for the faint of heart.

Yesterday was probably one of the happiest AND saddest day of my little Noa's life.

Happy: he turned another year older and is now 2!!

Happy: we had an amazing birthday party with close family and friends.

Happy: he got lots and lots of gifts from everybody!

Happy: he got to eat all the sweets his little heart desired (a rare occasion)

Happy: he got to video chad (via google+) with his jiji and baba, his cousin, and some of his aunts and uncles scattered all over the world...

....so why the sadness....?

Sad: he went from baby to boy. he is growing up waay too fast.

Sad: he probably won't remember the party that I put so much time and effort into....lol (it was well worth it!)

SAD: we said goodbye to his beautiful, soft, shiny, luscious....

baby curls.

apologies to those of you who voted "no" to cutting his hair.....
just fyi, we have been debating this issue for over a year, so it was in no ways an easy decision....I fought it all the way down to the last second.

because I knew that it would never grow back like this....

Chad gave me an ultimatum. It's either we cut it now, or we wait til his 3rd birthday to cut it. I knew that this (the length it is here) was the absolute longest that I wanted him to have...and couldn't imagine letting it get any longer and harder to manage. I made one of the hardest decisions of my mommy-life to part with his lovely locks. 

It might not look like it in these photos, but I was crying...my heart was breaking every second.

and then

finally.

No turning back now...

So I cut. 

 and I cut.

 and I CUT.

until.....

...there was no baby anymore...

just a little boy, ready to take on the world....

Noa's long curly hair had become such a big part of him...and his character...I am still trying to get used to this look (don't get me wrong, I like it. it is still cute. just a different kind of cute.)

Loves...

No matter  how long or short your hair is, Mommy will still love you just the same. And you will always be my Noa.

A "little late" Birthday Tribute.

I finally got a minute to do a little mini photo shoot with Kai for his 3-month.

I wanted to share a few of the photos, along with some of his latest developments:

At 3 months, baby Kai Kai:

*can lift and hold his head up really well.

*can do mini-push-ups while on his tummy.

*smiles and even giggles sometimes.

*is able to sit up with assistance.

*can bear a little weight on his legs.

*loves being held. hates being left alone.

*has found his thumb.

*can blow bubbles.

*is so ticklish!

Now on to the good stuff. enjoy his sweet little face.

Love LoVe LOVE this little angel!

for more photos from his photo shoot, go to my photog or click here.

An "Almost" Birthday Tribute.

My big boy Noa is turning 2 this week!!! Whoa, I know.

Since I have a crazy weekend coming up, I thought I would write a little pre-birthday birthday post before things get too hectic and I forget to recognize such a huge milestone in my baby's life. {Don't worry, there will be a birthday party post later :D...probably much much later}

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SO much has happened in the past year in this little guy's life. He has accomplished A LOT. 

So much growing, so much learning, and SO much loving.

{From 1 to 2...}

From baby to toddler.

From barely speed-walking, to RUNNING full speed. (and skipping, of course.)

From being able to say just a few words, to speaking in full sentences, and learning new words and phrases every second. {in two languages, might I add...} Having real CONVERSATIONS with us.

From eating soft, mushy baby food, to eating pretty much everything that we eat and put on his plate.

From having short fuzzy baby hair, to long shiny curly locks. (which we still are debating whether or not to chop off)

From having a few teeth on top, a few on bottom, to having full grown baby teeth (minus the very back molars)

A few more accomplishments of this amazing little boy:

He talks to Mommy in Japanese, while talking to Daddy and his family in English.

He puts 2-5 words together to make sentences. Asks for things, tells you things...has a conversation with himself.

He loves songs, especially gesture songs - twinkle twinkle, popcorn popping, wheels on the bus, head/shoulders, and a few Japanese songs - とんとんとんとん、パン屋さん，糸まきまき、げんこつ山のタヌキ....etc.

He can remember names and call people by them.

He has mastered the iPhone/iPod touch, our cell phones, laptops and TV.

He is so loving and caring toward Kai...and his "baby," a little tiger stuffed animal.

He can "Tahitian" dance...with his knees....haha

He jumps, dances, does "gymnastics"........he's a ball of energy....energy I don't have...

He is so fun, so active....and he has really developed a personality to match.

{wheels on the bus, and if you're happy and you know it...}

I fall more and more in love with this little boy. I can't believe how fast he has grown.

NOA ~

My little one... Watching you grow and learn has brought me the greatest joy.

and I am so so proud of you.  Your smile and your laugh, your kisses and hugs....I can't help but smile and be happy. YOU brighten up the gloomiest of days!

Keep being you. Grow up strong.

Mommy and Daddy love you so much!

xoxoXOxoxox

Noa's ABC ♬

One day, on our daily walk, I was singing songs to Noa and the ABC song was one of them.

he quickly picked it up and started singing with me.

We've sang this song many times before, but never like this...

It might be hard to hear but he sings the "now I know my abc's" part all by himself....now we just have to learn the beginning.

Good Morning.

These are some of the wonderful and precious things I get to wake up to in the morning.

This little cutie and his happy, kicking feet.

brotherly love ♥...

and some more happy, kicking feet.

and also....

this.

whoa, bedhead.

*sigh*

what to do. what to do...

to cut...or not to cut...that is the question.

What do you say? Yay or Nay...?

My New Obsession.

...or addiction...call it what you'd like. 

but I am seriously SO into Pinterest right now.

Thanks to all my friends pushing introducing/inviting me to it. [*ahem* Christal, Jess...love ya]

I can't really put my finger on what I like about it so much...but I just do!

all the lovely photos...such fabulous ideas....

It excites me just thinking about all the things I can and will do with my hobbies, home, and future. It also makes me sad reflecting on how much cuter, more creative, and fantastic everyone else is in the world. I will channel that negative energy to motivate me to be better, to aspire to something that I can really be proud of. and that is what is so great about it!

If you don't have or are thinking about getting a pinterest account, do it!

It's fabulous.

And if you are awesome and waaay ahead of me with joining, then add me as your friend ;) pleeease. and I will "follow" you back. I promise.

just click on the button below.

and check me out. ♥



[here's a little sneak of what goodness awaits you.]